The Wall that Heals — a near-scale replica of the The Wall, the 2-acre national memorial that stands on the Mall in Washington D.C. — will make a stop in Huntsville from Nov. 1-4.

It will be located just north of the Veterans Memorial Museum on Airport Road.

Open to individuals and school groups, educators are encouraged to include the once-in-a-lifetime tour of the 375-foot-long wall and accompanying exhibits in their plans this fall. The Wall that Heals will be open 24 hours a day. A guided tour takes about 1 1/2 hours.

Built in 1996, the chevron-shaped mobile wall was created with contributions from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the same organization that erected “The Wall” in Washington D.C. Just like the original, the Wall that Heals contains 58,000 names recorded alphabetically by day of causality. Consisting of 144 panels, a 53-foot trailer transports the replica wall from city to city. Once opened, the trailer features Vietnam War-related exhibits built into its sides, expanding the visitor’s understanding of the Vietnam War and the purpose of the memorial through a mobile education center.

The education center includes a digital photo display called “Hometown Heroes,” which localizes the exhibit by honoring Tennessee Valley service members listed on the wall and local veterans who returned from Vietnam and later died as a result of their service. A map of Vietnam, chronological timeline, videos that teach about the history and impact of The Wall, and a collection of items left at The Wall in D.C. will help visitors better appreciate that period of history.

More than 5.3 million people visit the Vietnam Memorial in the nation’s capital each year, but for many a trip to Washington, D.C., is too costly.

“That’s why the VVMF built The Wall That Heals,” said Sgt. 1st Class David Carney, Vietnam veteran and director of communications for the Wall That Heals-Huntsville project. “So that we can return the names home to communicates across the country and allow veterans and their family members who cannot make it to Washington, D.C., to experience the memorial.”

Since its debut in 1996, the replica wall has visited more than 600 cities across the United States, Ireland and Canada. Last year, retired Command Sgt. Maj. John Perry began lobbying the VVMF to bring the traveling exhibit to Huntsville. After much convincing, they agreed.

Working in conjunction with the city of Huntsville to prepare John Hunt Park Festival Grounds, the initial funding for the Huntsville-based project was provided by state Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison.

Carney said the entire project from set up to tear down costs an estimated $75,000 and requires a team of volunteers and counselors.

The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1067, will host the exhibit and provide many of the counselors who will be present at the site 24 hours a day while it’s in Huntsville.

“When we came off of active duty in the 1970s, we were told not to tell anyone that we had been in Vietnam,” Carney said. “There’s some wounds there. Those who have served have a lot of emotional baggage from their experiences.”

“Some will go there in the middle of the night to be alone,” he added. “That’s why we have counselors on hand, so if they want to talk, we will have someone there for them.”

Carney is perhaps most excited about the throngs of students who will visit the replica wall.

“They will not only experience the Wall, but all the living history of those veterans in attendance who are willing to share their stories,” Carney said. “The mobile education center, along with classroom instruction provided by the Vietnam Memorial Fund, will enhance and expand students’ experience and education about the Vietnam War and our veterans.

For the first time, visitors will be able to do name rubbings on the replica wall.

For more information about The Wall that Heals visit http www.vvmf.org.